anyhow

American  

[en-ee-hou] / ˈɛn iˌhaʊ /

adverb

1. in any way whatever.

2. in any case; at all events.

3. in a careless manner; haphazardly.

---

anyhow British  

/ ˈɛnɪˌhaʊ /

adverb

1. in any case; at any rate

2. in any manner or by any means whatever

3. in a haphazard manner; carelessly

---

Etymology

Origin of anyhow

First recorded in 1730–40; any + how ¹

Compare meaning

How does anyhow compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• anyhow vs. anyway

Explanation

Use the adverb anyhow to emphasize or support something you've just said. You might say, "I'm not going to bother studying those dates for history class — they're not going to be on the test anyhow." The word anyhow is usually just another way to say anyway. You could say, for example, "I won't be going for a run today, not if it's as hot as yesterday anyhow." Another way to use anyhow is to mean "in a haphazard way" or "randomly." Your mom might complain that people just toss things in the fridge anyhow. The word has been used in American English since the mid-1700s.

Example Sentences

Most people can focus only for three or four hours at a stretch, anyhow, so trying to work for eight solid hours isn’t really an effective use of your attention span.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 25, 2026

The purpose of abolition is, in part, accountability for the crimes its agents and administrators have committed, but it would be a worthy and necessary goal anyhow.

From Slate • Jan. 12, 2026

And if the pub isn’t there, they’ll just go home and wind one another up on the internet anyhow.

From New York Times • Apr. 4, 2024

It was a blow for Tottenham to concede such a late equaliser at Everton on Saturday - but Ange Postecoglou's side definitely did not deserve to win anyhow.

From BBC • Feb. 3, 2024

The woman had stayed in the shadows that night, too—and he’d been too tear-blinded to see well, anyhow.

From "The School for Whatnots" by Margaret Peterson Haddix

Related Words

• anyway